And here’s something else: mint is not an only child. It belongs to the Mint Family, a group of plants including basil, sage, oregano, rosemary, lavender, and–shockingly–catnip. (An illustrated taxonomyhere.)

Mint has a wide variety of uses. Its pleasant aroma makes it the perfect deodorizer–in fact, the Greeks used to sprinkle mint leaves around the room and crush the leaves to release the scent. This is why mint was known as “the herb of hospitality.”

In modern times, mint is used in eco-friendly stomach soothers, nasal decongestants, mosquito repellants, and insecticides. (Read “Death by Mint Oil” here, from the Wall Street Journal, for more info on natural pesticides.) Menthol, a concentrated mint oil, is used in anti-itch medication, cosmetics, sunburn medication, and perfumes. Mint may even have cancer-fighting properties.